Municipal News & Jobs

The Newton City Commission has adopted updates to the City’s building codes to bring them up-to-date and more closely match the City of Wichita, where most Newton contractors also do business. The updates included the 2024 editions of the International Building Code, the International Mechanical Code, and the International Existing Building Code, and the 2018 edition of the International Residential Code. The new code adoption followed multiple work sessions to solicit feedback from local contractors and building owners. It also followed adoption of the new International Fire Code earlier this year.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio | Your Hometown Radio Stations & Local News Source

On the heels of a particularly rainy week in early September, water conservation was a focal point of the Derby City Council’s Sept. 9 meeting. Following recent action taken by the city of Wichita — Derby’s water supplier — to impose permanent watering restrictions, the council was left to follow suit, adopting an ordinance enacting similar restrictions throughout Derby as of Sept. 15.
Read more: www.derbyinformer.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article

The City of Lawrence is raising the tax it charges for hotel rooms and short term rentals. The Transient Guest Tax (TGT), now set at 6% and going up to 8%, could be a money maker next summer with hundreds of thousands of fans expected in the Kansas City-area for the World Cup. Lawrence plans to use money raised by the tax to fund events and improvements the city wants to make for the World Cup.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports

While being formally introduced to the Barton County Commissioners Tuesday morning by Administrator Matt Patzner, one adjective was used on several occasions to describe the new Assistant County Administrator / Human Resources Director Casey Hubbard. That word was “professional.” Hubbard officially took over his new role with the County on Monday, Sept. 8.
Read more: Great Bend Tribune

Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags across Kansas to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, September 11, 2025, under Executive Order #20-30. The tribute honors the lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. “We will never forget the horrific tragedy that occurred 24 years ago, taking the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans and injuring thousands more,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “In the face of a terrorist attack, we reflect on the valor and bravery demonstrated that day by our nation’s first responders, who saved the lives of many despite losing more than 400 of their own. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their selfless service and sacrifice.”
Read more: KCLY Radio

It’s a Monday morning at the Wilson County Citizen, and the paper’s staff is chasing breaking news: The annual Fall River barbecue won’t be held this year. Staff might be an overstatement. The family-owned paper in Fredonia is run by Meredith Odell, with help from her sister, Ginger, and Ginger’s two dogs, Biscuit and Pepper. Meredith Odell has worked at the paper since she was 4, more than 50 years ago. The Wilson County Citizen is one of four papers listed for sale on the Kansas Press Association’s website. And KPA director Emily Bradbury said all of them share a common thread: The owners are aging and want to retire.
Read more: News

A stolen vehicle alert from the Parsons Police Department’s Flock Safety license plate recognition system led to the arrest of a Texas man on multiple felony charges Sunday evening.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

Two log jams are clogging rivers in north central Kansas, one just south of Tescott in Ottawa County and another still in Salina in Saline County. James Peterson, Tescott’s head of maintenance, says the log jam formed during Monday’s rain and contributed to widespread flooding. But for residents, it’s not the top concern. “Everything I’ve been dealing with and hearing is people taking care of their own house and own property, and their neighbors and anybody else that needs something. Most of them don’t care about a log jam in the river,” he said. Peterson says similar log jams have formed in that spot before. Ottawa County commissioners, however, are taking it seriously and plan to discuss solutions at their next meeting on Monday.
Read more: KSN-TV

Wichita residents are being asked to share their priorities for the city’s next manager as the search to replace longtime City Manager Robert Layton continues. The City Manager Selection Advisory Committee, working with CPS HR Consulting, has launched a community survey to gather feedback on what qualities and goals residents want in the city’s next chief executive. Layton announced earlier this year that he plans to retire on Dec. 31 after serving as city manager since 2009.
Read more: KSN-TV

The Wichita City Council approved two ordinances Tuesday aimed at addressing crime in Old Town and prostitution activity along Broadway. One ordinance sets a $500 mandatory fine for crimes in Old Town, including assault, drug offenses, trespassing and public nuisance violations. Judges can also bar offenders from the district during probation or diversion, with violations carrying up to $1,000 in fines or a year in jail. The second ordinance updates prostitution-mapping rules first created in 1995 for the Broadway corridor, identified decades ago as a hotspot for prostitution. Courts can now ban offenders from the area not only after convictions but also in diversion cases. Violations could bring fines up to $2,500 and jail time.
Read more: KSN-TV

County commissioners decided Monday to restrict wakeboarding boats on the county lake and to draft a policy on blasting after Orsted blasted a blade off a wind turbine a week and a half ago.
Lake residents often complain about the potential for damage to docks and tied boats because of the large waves wakeboarding boats produce. “Nobody likes them unless they have one,” lake superintendent Isaac Hett said.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

After almost six months on the job, Robert Reece has resigned from his position as Nemaha County Administrator effective Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. This announcement was made during the Monday, Aug. 25, Nemaha County Commissioners meeting. Reece was hired during the Jan. 7, 2025, Nemaha County Commissioners meeting by the former board of commissioners, which included Ben Glace, Dylan Keim and Jason Koch. Reece was hired on a 2-1 vote, with Koch voting nay.
Read more: The Sabetha Herald

The Hutchinson Planning Commission voted unanimously to rezone the property at 714 Cloverdale Drive to allow for goats on the property. The 9.26-acre property was rezoned from R-4 Residential Neighborhood Conservation District to R-1 Suburban Residential District. The property owner, Tammy Depperschmidt, was issued a zoning violation on July 24, 2025, as a result of having goats on the property. Under new R-1 zoning, she could theoretically host a total of 45 goats; however, a protective overlay was put in place to limit that number to ten. “By all means, I do not want 45 goats,” Depperschmidt said.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

With two absences Monday night and a supermajority required to pass a charter ordinance, South Hutchinson City Council needed a 4-0 vote to reduce the size of the council from six to five members. Instead, the measure failed, 3-1, with Kyle Cokely voting against it and Matt Nisly, Valerie Griffin, and Matthew Elliott voting for it, City Administrator Jeff Schenk said Tuesday. Schenk said the change in council structure would have made the mayor a voting member. Currently, the council elects one of its members to serve as a non-voting mayor, he said.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

The sun-faded sign with missing letters of Camptown will soon have a flashy new look, much like the building’s interior. After decades of sitting empty and unused, the former dog track at 313 U.S. 69 Highway is being revitalized as Camptown Event Center.
Read more: – Latest Stories

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Three miles outside of Newton sits the third busiest airport in Kansas, according to the number of operations, according to airport director Brian Palmer. Palmer and the other seven airport employees work for the city of Newton, but the city and county co-own the airport, each contributing $90,000, which makes up eight to nine percent of the airport’s annual revenue. Palmer said that according to the Kansas Department of Transportation, the airport provides about $187 million in economic impact to the city and the county on an annual basis. The airport doesn’t have any commercial traffic, but has 90 T-hangars and around 30 corporate planes based at it. They contain 14 employers in the field, accounting for a little over 500 employees.
Read more: Harvey County Now

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Water Smart Hays, the water resources department for the city, took to social media to share the message that the wipes labeled as “flushable” often aren’t. While these products often point to features like being biodegradable, that doesn’t mean they can’t clog your pipes or create backups in sewer systems.
Read more: KSN-TV

The applicant hopes to establish the facility on his property in Danville. He has already invested in kennels and wants approval to house dogs specifically for blood donation, with plans to sell the blood to veterinary clinics.
Read more: KSN-TV

Adding esports could cost the district between about $8,000 and $10,400 per building the first year of implementation and $314 each of the following two years… Purchases will include Nintendo Switch consoles, team uniforms, an annual participation fee and other smaller gaming equipment and platforms.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

While touting housing development accomplishments, Hays City Commissioners on Aug. 28th also all recognized that a solution is yet to be found for the low income housing shortage in the community. “We are more than interested in any conversation if anyone has ideas about how we should move forward to accomplish that [low income housing] in this community. It’s just not an easy situation. We continue to listen and search for ways to get it done,” said Mayor Sandy Jacobs. She commented that the low income housing problem has been “wracking” her for the last six months, despite the Commissioners’ many discussions of the topic. “It’s just a no-win situation at this point. I’m not saying we can’t figure it out,” Mayor Jacobs said. She called for anyone with ideas to “step up,” and speak to the Commission or contact City Manager Toby Dougherty.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Plans for a proposed chicken farm in Cowley County were brought up at Tuesday’s county commission meeting, with one person questioning how it could affect air and water quality in the area. Officials said all rules are being followed for setting up the business. The proposed poultry farm, owned by Lacy Shields, would have up to 40,000 birds and a 60,000 foot building on about 160 acres off of 122nd Road, near New Salem.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results

The City of Winfield is moving forward with the installation of a new community wayfinding signage system designed to help visitors more easily locate local land- marks and public points of interest. The project reduces the clutter of various directional signs throughout the community by consolidating them into one sign at each location. Signs are expected to be installed the last week of August and first week of September.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results

According to the Ark Valley News, a date has been set for the opening of the new casino and entertainment complex in Park City. Gilley’s, formerly called Golden Circle, will officially begin operations on Dec. 15.
Read more: www.derbyinformer.com – RSS Results in news/area_news of type article

The most vocal opponents of wind and solar energy spoke to the county commission on Friday as the data from the comprehensive survey is about to become public. Becky Willard, Ray Hough, and others expressed concerns about a July meeting between Commissioner Bruce Blair, County Counselor Jim Emerson, and EDF, the wind farm development company. Blair said there was nothing unusual about taking the meeting, adding that he meets privately with landowners and county residents all the time outside of regularly scheduled commission meetings, including having met with some of those currently present, and reiterated that no decisions will be made about wind or solar power without public input on the matter.
Read more: – Latest Stories

U.S. stocks ended modestly lower Friday after a weak jobs report cemented the case for a Federal Reserve rate cut at the central bank’s policy meeting ending Sept. 17. Bond yields declined sharply. Stocks opened higher in a bet that lower rates will boost corporate profits. But they turned lower at midmorning, reflecting concerns that rate cuts won’t necessarily jumpstart economic growth. The Dow fell 0.5% and the S&P 500 was off 0.3%; the Nasdaq was a tick lower.
Read more: WSJ.com: Markets

It’s been almost three weeks since the new cellphone policy began at the high school, and teachers and students say it has gone smoothly. Under the new bell-to-bell ban, students are not allowed to use their phones at all during class time, unless the teacher specifies use for instructional purposes. They are allowed to use their phones during passing periods and lunch. Sophomore Zeke Bartmess said “everyone was like zombies on their phones” last year. He said he loves the new policy and feels like it helps students focus and have interactions with each other.
Read more: The Eudora Times

Two Olathe homeowners are continuing to seek a solution after their homes flooded again this summer, the latest incident in a years-long struggle over who’s responsible for fixing the problem in the College Meadows neighborhood. As it happens, both Kate Guimbellot’s and Max Cook’s properties in the subdivision near College Boulevard and South Woodland Street suffered damage from flooding caused by heavy rains in July, just weeks before the city rejected the pair’s claims for damages from years of previous flooding. Guimbellot and Cook filed tort claims, a type of civil claim that alleges one party harmed another, paving the way for possible compensation. The claims were filed after three floods at Guimbellot’s property between 2017 and 2024, which she says have cost her and her family at least $15,000, and another flood at Cook’s property.
Read more: Johnson County Post

The massive log jam in the Smoky Hill River at Bill Burke Park will start being removed next week. The City of Salina tells KSN News that the contractor, Diehl Enterprises Inc., is building an equipment pad by the river to begin removing the jam. Earlier this summer, heavy rain caused the jam to form, and it drew many onlookers to the area for a view. The fire department urged the public not to walk on it. Emergency responders emphasized that if someone were to fall into the debris, a safe and swift rescue would be unlikely.
Read more: KSN-TV

Some big names in Kansas politics were on the campus of Pittsburg State University today.”It’s a great day for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, it’s a great day for all of our law enforcement partners, and it’s a great day for the State of Kansas,” said Tony Mattivi, KBI Director. This groundbreaking ceremony, just the start of many great things to come at PSU, which will soon be home to the “KBI Regional Crime Center and Laboratory.”
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

The plan was for it to be open by the fall. And it beat the deadline. Freeman Fort Scott Hospital officially opened Thursday morning. It also marks the end of a dry spell for many Bourbon County residents. The last time they had access to a full-service hospital was 2018. Ascension Via Christi closed the ER in December of 2023.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

The Kansas Supreme Court is taking action as rural communities in Kansas are dealing with an attorney shortage. Forty-seven counties in Kansas are classified as “legal deserts.” This means they do not have enough practicing attorneys to properly serve the population. The Kansas Supreme Court is taking a big step towards addressing this issue by establishing the “Rural Justice Initiative Committee.” This committee will take action on previously identified recommendations on how to fix the attorney shortage. These include establishing a statewide rural attorney training program, as well as creating student loan repayment programs.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The City of Arkansas City has been awarded a $115,840 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the National Park Service, administered through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The funding will help convert the existing tennis courts at Wilson Park into new pickleball courts. Plans call for a concrete viewing pad, fencing, netting and poles, LED lighting, and wind break screens.
Read more: Local – Cowley Post

Downtown Manhattan merchants are finding new ways to lure customers into their establishments. A new common consumption area was established in July, opening the opportunity for customers to freely roam a specified area with an alcoholic beverage. Jake Voegeli, co-owner of Manhattan Brewing Company, said after seven weeks in place, they’ve seen no issues. “For special events like the Third Thursdays, we set up on our patio, and we’ll serve people as they walk by,” he said. “We might get one or two people that want to walk around and finish their beer, and they just come up and they’ll grab a cup and go. There’s not really a lot of change to the business, other than it makes doing events easier.”
Read more: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article

Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed today announced that 27 local and off-system bridge projects across Kansas will receive a combined total of $40.5 million in state and federal funding as part of two local bridge improvement programs. “By funding bridge projects across our state, we are directly investing in the future of our communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Repairing and replacing aging bridges ensures people and commerce can move safely and efficiently throughout Kansas.”
Read more: Western Kansas News

A Wichita developer who took on repurposing five downtown buildings has sued the city of Wichita over parking disputes that she claims led to the closure of the Jinya Ramen Bar last year and is impacting parking for her tenants. Through various LLCs, Sudha Tokala has filed two lawsuits over ongoing disagreements with the city on outstanding parking debt and access to city garages following construction of the Wichita Biomedical Campus kicking off in 2023.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal – Local Wichita News

Visitors in Delano can walk around the neighborhood, alcoholic beverage in hand, starting Friday. Visitors can take advantage of the common consumption area Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. “Implementing common consumption isn’t just about being able to enjoy walking around Delano with a beverage,” Wichita City Council member Dalton Glasscock said. “It’s about creating a dynamic and walkable neighborhood and finding ways to draw patrons to the businesses of Delano.”
Read more: Homepage

Creek Side Resort owner Aaron Dreher asked the Hays City Commission last week if city-owned land could possibly be donated to facilitate the building of affordable housing. Before making his request during the Citizen Comments of the Aug. 28th Commission meeting, Mr. Dreher drew laughs by identifying himself as “the maintenance guy at the trailer park and aspiring Chick-Fil-A owner.” He opened his comments by noting that there has been talk throughout the community that building $150,000 houses in Hays is not possible.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Wichita is considering increasing fines — and adding more investigative tools — to crack down on illegal dumping. On Tuesday, the council will consider several items to increase enforcement of the illegal dumping ordinance, including using police surveillance technology to find offenders. That includes Flock cameras and closed-circuit television. Five cameras will also be installed in dumping hot spots across the city to catch offenders.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

In late July, the Prairie Village City Council adopted new ordinances around the use of e-bikes and e-scooters. The new rules state that e-bike or e-scooter operators must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and give an audible signal before passing or overtaking them. Riders also can’t operate their bike or scooter while distracted and must not ride in a “reckless, careless or negligent manner.”
Read more: KC Star

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

On the streets and in the courts over roughly the past year, Derby Police having been seeing growing issues with one particular drug — THC. In the last 365 days, Derby Police Chief Brandon Russell reported 49 THC vapes or vape cartridges were recovered during traffic stops, along with two packages of edibles — and 89 THC vapes were confiscated at Derby schools. There were also 10 drug-related driving under the influence arrests (out of 66 total) from July 31, 2024, to July 31, 2025, including two overdoses from THC products. With the amount of THC products seen on the streets and available for purchase, that led Derby PD to target sales, recently putting out a letter to more than 300 retail stores across the city to cease and desist distribution of illegal THC products.
Read more: www.derbyinformer.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article

Winfield City Commissioners approved a ban on mini-bikes, and approved the city’s budget and property collection for 2026, during their Tuesday meeting. This ban was requested by Winfield Police Chief Robbie DeLong due to safety hazards caused by mini-bikes and similar vehicles on public streets, according to the request for commission action. These vehicles should only be ridden on private property because they do not meet safety or EPA standards, and do not have a vehicle identification number.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results